Autonomous camera tracking apparatus, system and method

Abstract

An autonomous camera tracking system. The system can include a tracking apparatus, and a beacon. The tracking apparatus can include an infrared sensor, a camera, a processor, and a panning stepper motor. The beacon can include an infrared emitter. The infrared sensor can receive an infrared signal from the beacon and, upon detection of a shift in the position of the infrared signal, the stepper motor can pan the camera and the infrared sensor so as to place the beacon in the field of view of the camera. The tracking apparatus can further include a tilting stepper motor, and, upon detection of a shift in the position of the infrared signal, the stepper motor can tilt the camera and the infrared sensor so as to place the beacon in the field of view of the camera.

1 . An autonomous camera tracking system, comprising:
 a tracking apparatus, the tracking apparatus comprising an infrared sensor, a camera, a processor, and a panning stepper motor; and   a beacon, the beacon comprising an infrared emitter;   wherein the infrared sensor receives an infrared signal from the beacon; and   wherein, upon detection of a shift in the position of the infrared signal, the panning stepper motor pans the camera and the infrared sensor so as to place the beacon in the field of view of the camera.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tracking apparatus further comprises a tilting stepper motor; and   wherein, upon detection of a shift in the position of the infrared signal, the tilting stepper motor tilts the camera and the infrared sensor so as to place the beacon in the field of view of the camera.   
     
     
         3 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein:
 the tracking apparatus further comprises a pair of audio sensors; and 
 wherein, upon detection of a human voice by the pair of audio sensors, the panning stepper motor pans the camera so as to place the source of the human voice in the field of view of the camera. 
 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking apparatus further comprises one or more of:
 a power source;   a storage medium; and   a communications device.   
     
     
         5 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the beacon further comprises one or more of:
 a power source; and   a switch.   
     
     
         6 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking apparatus further comprises:
 a camera housing, the camera housing including the infrared sensor, the camera, and the panning stepper motor;   a geared cylinder having a toothed ring disposed on the outer circumference thereof;   a gear, disposed within the camera housing, coupled to the panning stepper motor and engaging the toothed ring of the geared cylinder;   wherein the panning stepper motor turns the gear so as to rotate the camera housing with respect to the geared cylinder.   
     
     
         7 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 3 , wherein the tracking apparatus further comprises:
 a camera housing, the camera housing including the infrared sensor, the camera, a pair of audio sensors;   a pedestal including a top portion and a bottom portion;   the bottom portion of the pedestal including a bottom surface and a toothed ring extending vertically from the bottom surface, the toothed ring having a plurality of teeth on the inner circumference thereof;   the top portion of the pedestal adapted to pivotably mount the camera housing therein, and including the panning stepper motor and the tilting stepper motor; and   a gear, disposed within the top portion of the pedestal, coupled to the panning stepper motor and engaging the toothed ring of the bottom portion of the pedestal;   wherein the panning stepper motor turns the gear so as to rotate the camera housing with respect to the geared cylinder; and   wherein the tilting stepper motor tilts the camera housing with respect to the pedestal.   
     
     
         8 . The autonomous camera tracking system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the camera housing further comprises a toothed strip disposed on the surface thereof; and   the top portion of the pedestal further comprises a slit for receiving the toothed ring, and a gear, disposed within the top portion, coupled to the tilting motor stepper motor and engaging the toothed strip of the camera housing.   
     
     
         9 . A method for autonomous camera tracking, comprising:
 placing an infrared-emitting beacon on a subject;   detecting the location of the beacon by an infrared sensor disposed coplanarly with a camera;   detecting a movement of the beacon by the infrared sensor; and   moving the camera and the infrared sensor so as to place the beacon within a field of view of the camera.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 detecting a human voice by a pair of audio sensors;   determining the location of the source of the human voice; and   moving the camera so as to place the source of the human voice within the field of view of the camera.